The latest news affecting umbrella companies in the UK. Featuring HMRC, the Agency Workers Directive, the 2003 Agency Regulations, and IR35.
Despite government promises to make it easier for small businesses to win public sector contracts, it’s plans don’t seem to be working.
SMES still think its too hard to win government contracts » Read the full story
Billings for IT freelancers reached their second highest level of the year in April, according to the latest Report on Jobs from the REC.
More employers were on the lookout for IT contractors during April » Read the full story
Within hours on HMRC publishing its IR35 guidance, members of the IR35 Forum issued a statement saying the document did not take key elements of their advice into consideration.
IR35 Forum members are disappointed with HMRC » Read the full story
The long awaited IR35 guidance was published on Wednesday. The guidance will enable contractors to determine if their contract is disguised employment or if they really are in business in their own right.
HMRC publishes IR35 Business Entity Tests » Read the full story
SQ Computer Personnel, a recruitment agency that specialises in jobs for IT contractors, said recently that it received more new instructions in March this year than it had in any other month during the last two years.
Are IT contractors really being replaced by permies? » Read the full story
Contractors in Scotland may have started to wonder what their future will be after the Scottish Referendum on Independence takes place.
PCG talks to Scottish MSPs about independence » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors might find themselves under more scrutiny after it was revealed that some recruiters have been targeted by conmen.
Are conmen giving contractors a bad name? » Read the full story
Every cloud has a silver lining so they say, and for IT contractors that cloud could come in the form of data security issues and the software necessary to solve them.
Security software market continues to grow » Read the full story
Contractors working through limited companies might be tempted to switch to umbrella companies once the full extent of the Revenue’s IR35 assessment criteria becomes known next week.
Will it be bonanza time for umbrella companies next week? » Read the full story
It’s not only small business owners who are going to have to keep on working past normal retirement age, according to the Pensions Policy Institute.
How much are umbrella company contractors saving for their retirement? » Read the full story
PAYE umbrella contractors may be tempted to relocate to Ireland after Apple announced it intends to expand its European HQ in Cork.
Will PAYE IT contractors find opportunities with Apple? » Read the full story
Outsourcing IT functions abroad is contributing to a skills shortage at home, according to a recent survey by Computer Weekly.
Have IT contractors noticed a skills shortage? » Read the full story
IT contractors better make sure their finances are in good order following the news that an increasing number of companies are looking into the financial past of freelance workers before offering them a contract.
IT contractors may want to check their credit rating » Read the full story
IT contractors should be aware that HMRC will track down anybody it believes could be guilty of tax evasion as a Scottish consultant found to his cost recently.
HMRC prosecutes tax evading IT contractor » Read the full story
We’ve heard a lot recently about new opportunities for contractors in the renewable energy sector. However, there was a bit if bad news last week as a Korean company decided to suspend its plans to invest in the UK’s wind industry.
Korea delivers blow to UK’s renewable energy plans » Read the full story
4.132m people in the UK are now self-employed according to the latest employment statistics from the ONS. That’s an increase of 136,000 since February 2011.
Women turn to contracting as redundancies kick in » Read the full story
